Fabric draw-off means for knitting machines



July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet l J ly 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 3 N P..LE-. E

July 2, 1968 v H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES FiledJuly e, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 4 July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL. ET AL. 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 5 230 22/ I! n: 0/ n: /70 I75 3/2 Zifl 41346 I677 ,6 97 1:17.9 I a v o as v m as ma I87 I 7r L J I 968 7- Q 262 I90 I97 m .1 M

I 207 2 I a .0 32 204 l O 2/2 223 L40 July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL. ET AL3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet e J ly 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 7 Tia-i5...

July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL ET AL 3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 8 "wa 77's,, 49 ---/6 42 July 2, 1968 H. E. HAEHNEL. ET AL3,390,550

FABRIC DRAW-OFF MEANS FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 9 PlE- EQ- Tia-E5.-

States nit ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention disclosed hereinrelates to straight bar or full-fashioned knitting machines havingfa'bric drawoff means including a first hook bar movable to engage andtension the fabric, a second hook bar movable to engage and tension thefabric both while the first bar continues to tension the fabric andafter the first bar is disconnected from the fabric, a third hook barmovable to engage and tension the fabric both while the second barcontinues to tension the fabric and after the second bar is disconnectedfrom the fabric and a fourth tensioning means movable to engage andtension the fabric both while the third bar is connected to the fabricand after the third bar is disconnected from the fabric.

This invention relates to straight bar or full-fashioned knittingmachines and more particularly to draw-off mechanism for such machinesfor tensioning and taking up fabrics knitted thereon.

Heretofore in machines for knitting full-fashioned fabric blanks such assweaters and the like, the blanks as they are knitted are initiallytensioned by draw-off or take-up means which is in the form of a weltengaging rod, when the blanks are provided with turned welt portions, orin the form of a bar having hooks which are engaged with startingcourses of the blanks or with preformed welt portions to which theblanks are knitted. The welt rod or hook bar is connected by straps to areel mounted on -a reel shaft which is rotated in the take-up directionby Weights or the like in a common manner. As the fabric blank is formedit is carried above a main take-up device in the form of a reel having aseries of hook members which are projected from the reel to engage andtension the fabric and are then retracted to release the fabric as thereel is rotated. After the fabric is under the take-up influence of thereel, when the welt wire is the initial tensioning means, the welt wireis manually disconnected from the straps and then removed from the weltof the fabric blank. The welt wire is then manually placed in a storagecontainer or in position for subsequent connection to the welt portionof the next fabric blank and the fabric blank, as it is released fromthe reel, is discharged into a collection hopper. When the hook bar isthe initial fabric tensioning means, this bar is manually disconnectedfrom the fabric after the fabric is under the influence of the reel ofthe main take-up means. While the various disconnecting procedures arecarried out during continued operation of the machine, the machine isnormally brought to a stop to permit the operator of the machine to makesure that the initial tensioning means is disconnected in all of theknitting sections of the machine. Hence, the above noted proceduresnecessary to carry out the required tensioning of the fabric blanks aretime consuming and greatly add to the production costs of the blanks.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel fabricdraw-off for a straight bar knitting machine which will overcome theabove noted and other objections to prior fabric draw-off means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of atent O 3,390,550Patented July 2, 1968 fabric draw-oft means for straight bar knittingmachines which is automatically connected to and disconnected from thefabric blanks in timed relationship to other operating parts of themachine during production of the fabric blanks.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means in astraight bar knitting machine for drawing off and tensioning fabricknitted on the machine which means includes a first member, means foroperating the first member to engage and draw off the fabric, a secondmember, and means for operating the second member to engage and draw offthe fabric, the second member also acting during its fabric draw-01fmovement to disengage the fabric from the firs-t member.

A still further object is the provision of means in a straight barknitting machine for drawing olf and tensioning fabric knitted on themachine which means includes a first member, means for operating thefirst member to engage and draw off the fabric, asecond member, meansfor operating the second member to engage and draw off the fabric whilethe first member is connected to the fabric, the second member alsoacting during its fabric draw-off movement to discharge the fabric fromthe first member, a third member rotatable to engage and draw off thefabric while the second member is connected to the fabric and means fordisconnecting the fabric from the second member as the third membercontinues to draw off the fabric.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of theinvention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides inthe novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts ashereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one knitting section of a multisectionfull-fashioned knitting machine with fabric drawotf mechanism accordingto the invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken transversely through the machineand showing operating mechanism for the draw-off means;

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken transversely through the machineshowing operating means for the mechanism of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view of control mechanism for the draw-off mechanism of FIG.3;

FIG. 8 is a view on an enlarged scale taken inthe direction of thearrows 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is 'a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of thearrows 99 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of thearrows 1010 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing fur ther operating andcontrol mechanism for the draw-off means;

FIG. 12 is a view of one of the pattern chain devices of the machine;

FIG. 13 is a view of further control means for the draw off means of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 1414 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the lineand in the direction of the arrows 1'51'5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows.1616 of FIG. with the parts shown in relative positions intermediatethe positions of FIGS. 24 and FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 16 butshowing the parts in the positions of FIG. 25;

FIG. 18 is a view on an enlarged scale of mechanism shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 19 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of thearrows 1919 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in the direction of thearrows 2020 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view of the tensioning means for the draw-offmeans and illustrating the parts in one operating stage during theformation of a fabric blank on the machine; and

FIGS. 22 to 29 are views similar to FIG. 21 but showing furtheroperating stages of the draw-off means during the formation of a fabricbl-ank.

In the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a portionof a multisection full-fashioned knitting machine for knitting fabricblanks, such as for sweaters and the like, including a center frame 10,a front beam 11, a back beam 12, a center bed 15 and a front bed ortable 16. The beams and beds are secured to the center frames and to endframes (not shown) to form the usual framework of the machine. Eachknitting section of the machine has a row of spring bearded needles 17which are carried in a needle bar '20 and which cooperate with sinkers21 slidably carried in slots in a sinker-head 22 secured to the centerbed 15 and knockover bits 25. The needles, sinkers and knockover bitsare operated by lever means and cams (not shown) on a camshaft 26 toform yarn, fed thereto by yarn carriers such as shown at 27 in FIG. 2,into loops of the fabric blanks diagrammatically shown at 28 in FIGS. 21to 29. The carriers 27 are carried on carrier rods which arereciprocated back and forth across the row of needles 17 by means offriction boxes or like driving devices which are in turn reciproc-atedby coulier mechanism (not shown) in a conventional manner.

The machine is also provided with means for forming turned welt portionson the fabric blanks including a welt bar '30 having welt hooks 31,rails or bridge members 32 on which the welt .bar is supported formovement toward and away from the needles 17, and means indicatedgenorally at 3 5 which is operated by linkage (not shown) from thecamshaft 26 to move the welt bar toward and away from the needles. Thebridge members 32 are mounted on a shaft 36 (FIG. 2) which is pivotallymounted in the center frames 10 for purposes hereinafter set forth. Thewelt bar is moved horizontally on the bridge members 32 when the bridgemembers are in the horizontal rest position of FIGS. 2 and 21 toposition the welt hooks 31 to receive the loops of the first course ofthe fabric blank and the welt bar is then moved in the drawoff directionon the bridge members to tension the fabric blank as it is formed bystraps 37 connected between the welt bar and a shaft 40 mounted forrotation in the framework of the machine. The shaft is turned in aclockwise or draw-off direction by weights 41 or the like (FIG. 21).

Following completion of the fabric forming the welt portion of thefabric blank the welt bar is again moved toward the needles by the means35 at which time the shaft 36 is operated to raise and lower the ends ofthe bridge members 32 and to turn the welt bar to a vertical position asindicated in FIG. 24 to return the loops of the first course of thefabric to the needles to close the welt portion of the fabric blank. Thewelt bar 30* and the bridge members 32 are then returned to an inactiveposition indicated in FIG. 25. The means for forming the turned weltportion of the fabric blank forms no part of the present invention andis generally of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,396,263 inboth structure and function.

Prior to the movement of the welt bar to return the first course of thewelt to the needles to close the welt a second tensioning means isconnected to the fabric to maintain tension thereon as the welt isclosed as above set forth. The second tensioning means includes a secondbar 42. having spaced hooks 45 secured thereto as by screws 46. Theopposite ends of bar 42 are secured to plates 47 each of which is inturn secured to the inner end of a pin 50 mounted in fixed position in abracket 51 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The bracket 51 is guided for slidingmovement along one face of a lever 52 by studs '55 fixed in the lever,the studs having enlarged portions 56 interfitti-ng in an elongated slot57 in the bracket (FIG. 3). The lever 52 is mounted for pivotal movementon a stud 60 carried in an adjacent center frame 10, the lever beingpositioned on the stud 60 between collars 61 secured thereto (FIG. 4). Aspring 62 connected between the bracket 51 and a pin 65 in the lever 52tends to bias the bracket upwardly on the studs 55 and a spring 66connected between the lever and a pin 67 in one of the collars 61 tendsto turn the lever counterclockwise on the stud 60 as viewed in FIG. 3,for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The outer end of each pin 50 has a roller 68 for engagement with acamming surface 69 formed on the underside of the adjacent bridge member32 when the bridge members are in their rest position of FIG. 3 forpurposes hereinafter set forth. One end of a cable 70 is connected toeach pin 50 at a point intermediate the roller 68 and bracket 51. Thecable is guided over a grooved roller 71 rotatably mounted on a stud 72fixed in the lever 52 and the other end of the cable remote from the pin50 is connected to a pin 75. The pin 75 is carried in the free end of alever 76 secured to a shaft 77 extending along the machine and rotatablymounted in brackets 80 secured to the frames 10-. The shaft 77 carriesan arm 81 for supporting a weight 82 which acts to normally turn thearm, shaft and lever 76 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 to a stoppedposition as determined by engagement of a stop arm 78 secured on theshaft 77 with a fixed part of the machine. The shaft 77 also carries anarm '85 having a roller 86 for engagement with a free end portion 87 ofa lever 90 pivotally mounted on a shaft 91 carried in the frames 10.Intermediate the shaft 91 and portion 87, lever 90 carries a pin 92having an enlarged head 95. A roller 93, mounted for both rotatable andaxial movement on the pin 92 between the head 95 and lever 90, isadapted to engage a cam 96 fixed on a shaft 97 mounted for oscillatingmovement in the brackets 80 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The roller 93 is normallybiased toward the right against the head 95, as viewed in FIG. 6, forengagement with a high portion 100 of the cam 96, by a spring 101carried on the pin 92 between the roller and lever 90. The high portion#100 of the cam 6 is adapted to engage the roller 93 to turn lever 90clockwise when the shaft 97 is turned counterclockwise as viewed in FIG.5 in the manner and for purposes hereinafter set forth.

Cooperating with each hook bar 42 is a deflector bar 105 (see FIG. 2)which is secured to arms 106 fixed on the shaft 97 for oscillationtherewith. The underside of the bar 105 is provided with notches 104(see FIG. 1) having a spacing corresponding to the spacing of the hooks45 in the bar 42, the notches providing clearance for the books when thehooks are moved to engage the fabric as hereinafter set forth. The arms106 carry adjustable set screws 108 for engagement with the front bed 16when the arms and bar 105 are moved to the position of FIG. 23 in themanner hereinafter described. The shaft 97 also has fixed thereto oneend of a lever 107 the free end of which is pivotally connected by alink 110 to a lever 111. The lever 111 is pivotally mounted on a pin 112carried in a bracket 115 secured to the back beam 12 (FIG. 2).Intermediate the pin 112 and connecting link 110 the lever carries aroller type follower 116 for engagement with a earn 117 on the camshaft26. At its free end lever 111 is provided with a nose portion 120 whichis adapted to be supported at the level of a high surface 118 on the cam117 by an upper end 121 of a lever 122 to normally prevent lever 111 andfollower 116 from following the cam 117 and to maintain the arms 106 andbar 105 in raised inactive position when the lever 122 is beneath thelever 111 (FIGS. 2 and 8). The lever 122 is pivotally mounted on a stud125 carried in a bracket 126 secured to the front beam 11. The lever 122has a forwardly projecting arm 130 adapted to engage a collar 131 fixedon a rod 132 (FIGS. 2 and 9) which is one of a group of similar rodswhich are connected to and operated by a group of levers 133 (FIG. 12).The levers 133 are operated by pattern levers 135 which are in turnoperated by high and low buttons 136 and 136a, respectively, on a chain137 forming part of a pattern chain device 138. The arm 130 of lever 122is maintained in engagement with the collar 131 by a spring 140connected between the arm and a second collar 141 secured to the rod 132(FIG. 9) and a spring 142 connected between the free end of lever 111and a spring hook 143 on the front beam 11 biases the lever 111 towardthe cam 117.

Fixed to the shaft 97 is member 145 (FIG. 7) having a nose portion 146for engagement with a finger 147 formed on a lever 148 loosely mountedon the shaft 97. The member 145 is also provided with a finger 150having an adjustable set screw 151 for engagement with an ear 152 formedon a lever 153 loosely mounted on a shaft 155 supported in the brackets80. The free end of the lever 153 threadably carries an adjustable setscrew 156 for engagement with a lug 157 projecting from the side of thelever 148. At its free end the lever 148 has a hook-like portion 158 forengagement with a shoulder 160 formed at the end of a notch 159 in acollar 161 secured to the shaft 77. A spring 162 connected between thelevers 148 and 153 tends to maintain the set screw 156 in engagementwith the lug 157 on lever 148 and a spring 163 connected between thelever 148 and one of brackets 80 tends to turn the portion 158 of thelever 148 toward engagement with the shoulder 160 of collar 161 andmaintain the car 152 on the lever 153 in engagement with the set screw151 in member 145 when the bar 105 and arms 106 are in raised inactiveposition.

Normally the hook bar 42 is maintained in its inactive position of FIGS.3 and 21 by the weights 82 when the weights are in their stoppedposition as determined by the stop arm 78. At this time the cables actto turn the levers 52 clockwise about the studs 60 and the brackets 51and hook bar 42 are lowered against the action of the spring 62 byengagement of the rollers 68 on the brackets with the camming surfaces69 on the bridge members 32. Also at this time the lever 122 is beneaththe end 120 of the lever 111 to hold the deflector bar 105 in its raisedinactive position of FIG. 2 and the cam 96 is in its position of FIG. 5,and the member 145 maintains the levers 148 and 153 in the position ofFIG. 7. Prior to the movement of the welt bar 30 to return the firstcourse of the welt to the needles to close the welt portion of thefabric blank as hereinbefore set forth, a high button 136 on the chain137 is moved beneath "a pattern lever 135 to move its associated lever133 and shift the rod 132 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 9 to removethe lever 122 from beneath the end of lever 111 thereby permittingfollower 116 on the lever 111 to follow the contour of the cam 117. Asthe follower 116 rides from the high surface 118 toward a low surface119 of the cam 117, lever 111 is turned clockwise about the pin 112 toturn the shaft 97, the member 145 and the arms 106 counterclockwise tomove the deflector bar 105 toward the fabric and the cam 96 acts on theroller 93 on the pin 92 to turn the lever 90 clockwise as viewed in FIG.5. As the lever 90 is moved by the cam 96 the portion 87 of the leveracts on the roller 86 to turn arm 85, lever 76 and shaft 77 and thecollar 161 on the shaft counterclockwise until the shoulder 160 passesthe portion 158 of the lever 148, the spring 163 acting at this time toturn the lever 148 clockwise to move the portion 158 into the notch 159in the collar. As the shaft 97 and cam 96 continue to turn in thecounterclockwise direction the high portion of the cam 96 passes theroller 93 thereby permitting the weight to again turn the shaft 77clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 7 until the shoulder 160 engages theportion 158 of the lever 148 to momentarily arrest or stop the shaft.

During the counterclockwise movement of the shaft 77 by the cam 96 thesprings 66 act to rotate the levers 52 counterclockwise about the studs60 and the springs 62 act to raise the brackets 51 relative to thelevers as the rollers 68 on the pins 50 follow the contour of the camsurfaces 69 to surfaces 164 on the underside of the bridge members 32.The levers 52 then continue to rotate and the brackets rise on thelevers until the rollers 68 engage stop shoulders 164a (FIG. 3) on thebridge members 32 to position the bar 42 and hooks 45 adjacent thefabric between the needles 17 and welt bar 30 as shown in FIG. 22. Asthe lever 111 continues to turn in the clockwise direction under theinfluence of the low surface 119 of the cam 117, the deflector bar ismoved to its position of FIG. 23 by the arms 106 to depress the fabric.Simultaneously with the movement of the deflector bar 105 to depress thefabric the nose 146 of the member acts on the finger 147 to turn thelever 148 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 7 to disengage the portion158 from the shoulder on the collar 161 thereby permitting the weights82 to turn the shaft 77 and lever 76 in the clockwise direction. Thisclockwise movement of lever 76 acts through cable 70 to turn the lever52 and bar 42 clockwise to engage the hooks 45 in the fabric as shown inFIG. 23 to tension the fabric. The welt bar is then moved to itsposition of FIG. 24 to close the welt portion of the fabric, ashereinbefore set forth.

As follower 116 rides from the low surface 119 to the high surface 118of cam 117 the lever 111 is turned counterclockwise to again turn theshaft 97 clockwise to return the arms 106 and deflector bar 105 to theinactive position of FIG. 2 and the button 136 on the chain 137 is movedfrom beneath lever 135 thereby permitting movement of the rod 132 towardthe left under the inflluence of a spring 166 connected between a collar167 fixed to the rod and a fixed part of the machine (FIG. 12) to againmove the lever 122 beneath the lever 111 when the follower reaches thehigh surface of the cam. Simultane ously with this movement of the shaft97 the set screw 151 acts on the ear 152 to turn the lever 153 and theset screw 156 into supporting engagement with the lever 148 and acamming surface on the cam 96 acts on the roller 93 to shift it to theleft on the pin 92, as viewed in FIG. 6, out of the path of the highportion 100 of the cam to prevent the roller from again acting on thelever 90 to turn the shaft 77 in the counterclockwise direction as thecam is returned to its position of FIG. 5.

Following closing of the welt and while the hooks 45 continue to tensionthe fabric a third tensioning means is attached to the fabric tocontinue the draw-ofl? action on the fabric and to disengage the fabricfrom the hooks 45. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 11 the thirdtensioning means includes a bar 170 having hook members 171, withdownwardly extending end portions 172, secured thereto as by screws 173.The bar 170 is supported for movement toward and away from the needles17 along a path between-the path of the welt bar and front 'bed 16 onplates carried on the front bed. The bar 170 is attached to straps 176each of which has one end connected to a spool 177 secured to a shaft178 supported for rotative movement in opposite directions in thebracket 80, for purposes hereinafter set forth, and its other endattached to a spool 181 secured to the shaft 155. As shown in FIGS. 11and 22 the straps extend from the spools 177 above the front bed 16 andover pairs of rollers 174 carried on brackets 179 secured to theunderside of the front bed and then pass beneath the front bed to thespools 181. The shaft 178 is rotated in a clockwise direction by weights183 or other suitable means (FIG. 21) to move the straps 176 with thebar 170 and hook members 171 in a fabric draw-01f direction after thehook members are attached to the fabric and the shaft 155 is rotated ina counterclockwise direction to move the straps with the bar and hookmembers toward the needles for engagement with the fabric in the mannerhereinafter set forth.

For rotating the shaft 155 in the counterclockwise direction the shafthas secured thereto a toothed wheel or ratchet 185 (FIGS. 18 and 19) theteeth of which are adapted to be acted on by a pawl 186. The pawl 186 ispivotally mounted on a lever 187 which in turn is loosely mounted foroscillating movement on the shaft 155 to operate the pawl throughratchet advancing movements. The pawl 186 is provided with a pin 188having portions projecting from opposite sides thereof, the portion ofthe pin at one side of the pawl engaging a high surface 190 on a member191 also mounted for oscillating movement on the shaft 155 to hold thepawl out of engagement with the ratchet 185. A flat spring plate 192secured to the lever 187 by a screw 193 engages the portion of the pin188 extending from the other side of the pawl to bias the pawl towardthe ratchet.

For oscillating the lever 187 through its ratchet advancing movementsthe lever 187 is pivotally connected by a link 195 to one arm 196 of alever 197 pivotally mounted on a pin 198 carried in a bracket 200secured to the back beam 12 (FIG. 11). The lever 197 has a second arm201 on which is mounted a roller type follower 202 for engagement with acam 203 carried on the camshaft 26. A spring 205 connected between thefree end of the arm 201 and a bracket 206 carried on the back beam 12tends to bias the lever 197 and follower 202 toward the cam 203. The cam203 has a high surface 204 which acts to turn the lever 197counterclockwise to reset the lever 187 and pawl 186 following a ratchetadvancing movement of the pawl and a low surface 204a which acts todetermine the extent of the ratchet advancing movement of the pawl whenthe lever is turned clockwise by the spring 205 to follow the cam. Thelever 197 has a projecting finger 207 adapted to be supported on a lever208 to hold the lever and follower 202 at the level of the high surface204 of cam 203 and prevent the lever from following the contour of thecam 283. The lever 208 is pivotally mounted on a stud 210 carried in abracket 211 mounted on the front beam 11. Referring particularly toFIGS. ll, 12 and 20 the lever 208 has an arm 212 for engagement with acollar 213 secured on a rod 215 which is connected to and operated byone of the levers 133 and associated pattern lever 135 of the patternchain device 138 in the same manner as rod 132. The arm 212 is biasedinto engagement with the collar 213 by a spring 216 connected betweenthe arm and a second collar 217 also secured to the rod 215 (FIG. 20).The rod 215 is shifted toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 12 and 20 bythe levers 133 and 135 associated therewith when a button on the chain137 is moved beneath the elever 135 to move the lever 208 from beneaththe finger 207 of lever 197 to permit the latter to follow the cam 203to move the pawl 186 through its ratchet advancing movements and the rodis moved toward the left by a spring 166 connected between a collar 167on the rod and machine frame when the button is moved out of engagementwith lever 135, to again position lever 208 beneath finger 207.

Simultaneously with the movement of the rod 215 to the right to removethe lever 208 from beneath the lever 197 as above set forth, the member191 is also oscillated to remove the high surface thereof fromengagement with the pin 188 thereby permitting the pawl 186 to engagethe teeth of ratchet 185. For this purpose the member 191 is pivotallyconnected by a link 218 to one arm 220 of a lever 221 pivotally mountedon a pin 222 carried in a bracket 223 secured to one of the frames 10. Asecond arm 225 of the lever 221 has its free end interposed between apair of collars 226 also fixed on the rod 215.

Referring particularly to FIG. 18 the teeth of the ratchet 185 are alsoacted on by a detent 227 to prevent reverse movement of the ratchet andshaft 155 during advancing movement of the ratchet by the pawl 186. Thedetent 227 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 40 and has a pin 228projecting from one side thereof for engagement with a second highsurface 238 on the member 191. The surface 230 acts to hold the detentout of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet when the pawl isinactivated by the high surface 190 of the member 191 and both the pawland detent are moved to engage the teeth of the ratchet when the memberis oscillated by the rod 215 as hereinbefore set forth. A spring 231connected between the detent and one of the brackets (FIG. 18) tends tobias the detent toward the ratchet. During movement of the straps 176 tomove the bar 170 toward the needles 17 the movement of the shaft 178 isdampened slightly by braking means including a collar 232 secured to theshaft 178 the outer periphery of which is adapted to be engaged by abrake shoe 235 of leather or the like carried on a brake lever 236. Thelever 236 is pivoted on a pin 237 mounted in one of the brackets 80(FIG. 18) and at its free end threadably carries an adjustable set screw240 for engagement with a surface 241 on the detent 227. A spring 242connected between the lever 236 and the bracket 80 biases the levercounterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 18, to engage the brake shoe 235with the collar 232 when the detent 227 is moved to engage the teeth ofthe ratchet 185 as above set forth.

During the resetting movement of the straps 176 by the pawl 186 andratchet 185 the straps are moved only sufiiciently to initially move thebar 170 and hook members 171 from the position of FIG. 29 to theposition of FIG. 25 and the straps are then stopped until after the weltbar 30 is moved to close the welt. Referring particularly to FIG. 13 forstopping the straps and bar in their stopped position there is provideda lever 245 mounted for rotative movement on the shaft 97 and having anose portion 246 for engagement with a shoulder 247 formed at the end ofa notch 248 in collars 250 and 251 and with a shoulder 249 on the collar251 for purposes and in the manner hereinafter set forth. The collars250 and 251 are secured in side-by-side relationship on the shaft and asshown in FIG. 13 the collar 250 is of a smaller diameter than the collar251. The lever 245 is normally maintained in an inactive position asshown in FIG. 13 "with the nose portion above the outer periphery of thelarger diameter collar 251 through a link 252 having its opposite endspivotally connected to the lever 245 and one arm 253 of a lever 255(FIG. 14). The lever 255 is pivotally mounted on a pin 256 carried in abearing member 257 secured on a shaft 258 carried in the framework ofthe machine. The lever 255 has a second arm 260 for engagement with acollar 261 fixed on a rod 262. The arm 260 of lever 255 is biased intoengagement with the collar 261 by a spring 263 connected between the armand a second collar 265 also fixed on the rod 262. The rod 262 isconnected to one of the levers 133 which is operated by one of thelevers 135 by high and low buttons, similar to the high and low buttons136 and 13611, on the chain 137. When a high button on the chain 137 ismoved beneath the lever 135 associated with the rod 262 the rod is movedtoward the right sufficiently to move lever 245 clockwise, as viewed inFIG. 13, to position the nose portion 246 thereon to engage the shoulder247 on collars 250 and 251. On the other hand a low button on the chainmoves the rod 262 to turn lever 245 and nose portion 246 only to a levelto engage the shoulder 249 on the collar 251.

During movement of the bar and hook members 171 to the position of FIG.25 the bar 170 is rocked or tilted slightly to raise the down-turnedends 172 of the hook members. For this purpose the underside of the bar170 is provided with a spaced pair of notches 266 having upper surfaces267 extending at a slight angle relative to the normal surface of theunderside of the bar (FIGS. and 16). Secured in each of the notches 266is a plate 268 having a U-shaped member 269 which forms with the platean aperture 269a adapted to receive a horizontally extending finger 270when the bar 170 is in the position of FIG. 25, the finger cooperatingwith the bar and strap member at this time to tilt the bar (see alsoFIG. 17) as above set forth. Referring particularly to FIG. 2 eachfinger 270 forms a part of a lever 271 having a slot 271:: for bothpivotal and sliding engagement with a stud 272 mounted on the free endof an arm 273 carried in fixed position on a shaft 274 mounted foroscillating movement in the frames 10'. A spring 264 connected betweeneach lever 271 and a fixed part of the machine normally biases the leverclockwise on the stud 272 to a stopped position against the one side ofthe front bed 16 as shown in FIG. 2. A second arm 275 also fixed on theshaft 274 has its free end pivotally connected by a link 276 to a lever277 pivotally mounted on a pin 278 carried in a bracket 279 secured tothe back beam 12 (FIG. 2). The lever 277 carries a roller type follower280 for engagement with a cam 2-81 on the camshaft 26. A spring 282connected between an arm 283 of the. lever 277 and a bracket 285 on theback beam 12 tends to bias the lever and follower 280 toward the cam281. The cam has a low surface 286 which acts through levers 273 and 275to raise the levers 271 and bar 170 when the fingers 270 are engaged inthe apertures 269a in the members 269 and a high surface 287 which actsto again lower the levers 271 and bar 170 in the manner and for purposeshereinafter set forth.

The lever 277 is normally held in its position as determined by the highsurface 287 of the cam 281 by an upper end portion 288 of a one arm 290of a lever 291 which over-lies a projection 292 on the lever 277adjacent the follower 280 (FIGS. 2 and 10). The lever 277 is alsoadapted to be held in the position determined by the high portion of cam281 by an upper end portion 293 of a second arm 295 of the lever 291when the latter is moved into overlying relationship to the projection292, for .pu-rposes hereinafter set forth. The lever 291 is fixed on oneend of a shaft 296 pivotally mounted in a bracket 297 carried on thefront beam 11. At its other end shaft 296 carries a lever 298 having aball-like free end portion 300 adapted to be received in a forked end301 at the lower end of one arm 302 of a lever 303 (FIG. 8). The leveris pivotally mounted on a stud 305 carried in the bracket 126. The lever303 has a second arm 306 having its free end pivotally connected by alink 307 to the lever 122.

Prior to the connection of-the hooks 45 on the bar 42 with the weltfabric and operation of the welt bar 30 to close the Welt ashereinbefore set forth, a button on the chain 137 is moved beneath thepattern lever 135 associated with the rod 215 to shift this rod to theright (FIGS. 12 and 20) to turn the member 191 to remove the highsurfaces 190 and 230 (FIG. 18) from beneath the pawl 186 and detent 227to permit them to engage the teeth of the ratchet 185. The rod 215 atthis time also acts to remove the lever 208 from beneath the finger 207on lever 197 thereby permitting the lever 197 to follow the cam 203 tooperate the pawl through its ratchet advancing strokes to operatethestraps 176 to start moving the bar 170 and hook members 171 from theirinactive position at FIG. 29 toward the needles 17. During continuedmovement of the bar 170 toward the needles the bar 42 is operated toengage the hooks 45 with the fabric as shown in FIG. 23 and the welt bar30 is moved to its position of FIG. 24 to close the welt as hereinbeforeset forth. Following movement of the welt bar 30 to the position of FIG.24 to close the welt, the welt bar is moved to its position of FIG. 25and the straps 176 and bar 170 are advanced to the position of FIG. 25to engage the fingers 270 in the apertures 269a in the bar. At this timea high button on the chain 137 has shifted the rod 262 toward the right(FIG. 14) to move the nose portion 246 of the lever 245 toward thecollars 250 and 251 for engagement with the shoulder 247 to stop theshaft 155 and straps 176 as the bar 170 reaches the position of FIG. 25.Also at this time a stop member 308 (FIG. 13) engages a shoulder 310formed on a collar 311 secured to the shaft 178 to hold the latter shaftagainst the take-up force of the weights 183. The stop member 308 ispivotally mounted on a shaft 312 rotatably carried in the bracket andthe stop member is normally held inactive above the collar 311 by a setscrew 313 carried in the lever 245 when the latter is in its inactiveposition with respect to the collars 250 and 251 and the stop member ismoved toward the collar 311 for engagement with the shoulder 310 by aspring 315 connected between the stop member and a fixed part of themachine, when the lever 245 is moved to engage the shoulder 247 on thecollars 250 and 251. Following movement of the bar 170 to the positionof FIG. 25 the rod 215 is again moved toward the left to move the lever208 beneath the finger 207 of lever 197, and the high'surfaces 190 and230 of member 191 are positioned beneath the pawl 186 and detent 227 todisengage them from the ratchet. At this time the lever 245 remains inengagement with the shoulder 247 on the collars 250 and 251 and the stopmember 308 remains in engagement with the shoulder 310 on the collar311.

During the formation of a subsequent course of the fabric and while thehooks 45 of bar 42 continue to tension the fabric, a button on chain 137again operates the rod 215 to remove the lever 208 from beneath thefinger 207 of lever 197 to permit it to follow the cam 203 and to removethe high surfaces of the member 191 from beneath the pawl 186 and detent227 to permit them to engage the ratchet 185. Also at this time a lowbutton on the chain operates the rod 262 to position the nose portion246 of lever 245 for engagement with the shoulder 249 on collar 251 anda low button on the chain operates the rod 132 to remove the portion 288of arm 290 (FIG. 10) from above the projection 292 of lever 277 topermit it to follow the cam 281. Thereafter during continued operationof the machine, the pawl 186 is operated by the cam 203 to move thestraps 176 and bar 170 toward the needles until the nose portion 246engages the shoulder 249 and the lever 277 and levers 271 are operatedby the low surface 286 of the cam 281 to raise the bar 170 and hookmembers 171 thereon to the position of FIG. 26. The lever 277 is thenoperated by the high surface 287 of the cam 281 to lower the levers 271and bar 170 to the position of FIG. 27 to engage the hook members 171with the fabric. At thisv time the fingers 270 on the levers 271 remainin engagement with the U-shaped members 269 on the bar 170. Followingengagement of the hook members 171 with the fabric, lever 291 is movedby rod 132 to position the portion 288 of arm 290 above the projection292 on lever 277, the rod 215 is operated to move lever 208 beneath thefinger 207 of lever 197 and to move the high surfaces on the member 191beneath the pawl 186 and detent 227, and the rod 262 is operated to movethe lever 245 to inactive position with respect to the collars 250 and251 and to move the stop member 308 to inactive positions with respectto the collar 311 to permit the weights 183 to move the straps 176 andhook members 171 away from the needles to tension the fabric. It is tobe noted that movement of the rod 132 by a low button on the chain 137is insufficient to remove the lever 122 from beneath the nose portion sothat lever 111 remains inactive at this time. It is also to be notedthat when the rod 132 is operated by a high button on the chain to causethe lever 111 to operate the bar 105 as hereinbefore set forth, themovement of the rod is sufficient to turn the lever 291 to move the endportion 293 of the arm 295 above the projection 292 to maintain thelever inactive.

During the continued formation of the fabric blank both the bar 42 andthe are moved in the draw-off direction to tension the fabric untilmovement of the bar 42 is arrested by engagement of stop arm '78 on theshaft 77 (FIG. with a fixed part of the framework of the machine, ashereinbefore set forth. Thereafter movement of the bar 170 under theinfluence of the weights tensions and draws the fabric away from theneedles 17 as it is formed and disengages the fabric from the hooks 45of the arrested bar 42. During continued movement of the bar 170 in thedraw-off direction the levers 271 follow the movement of the bar untilthey again engage the front bed 16, as shown in FIG. 28, and the bar isdisengaged from the fingers 270 on the levers 271. As formation of thefabric continues it is carried by the bar 170 above a forth tensioningmeans which acts, after it is connected to the fabric, to continue thefabric draw-off action and disengage the hook members 171 of the thirdtensioning means from the fabric. The forth tensioning means is of thetype shown in the co-pending application of Herbert E. Haehnel, Ser. No.387,009 filed Aug. 3, 1964, now Patent No. 3,269,150, issued Aug. 30,1966, and includes a plurality of reel sections 317 for each knittingsection of the machine mounted on the shaft 312 for rotation therewith(FIG. 1). The shaft 312 is adapted to be rotated in the take-updirection by weights 320 shown in FIG. 21. Each reel section 317 has aplurality of rows of fabric engaging hook members 318 which are mountedfor movement from retracted positions within the reel sections toprojected positions beyond the outer periphery of the reel sections toengage and draw off the fabric, and from their projected positions toretracted positions within the reel sections to release the fabric asthe shaft and reel sections are rotated. The shaft 312 is normally heldagainst rotation by the weights 320- by engagement of a pawl 314 with aratchet 316 secured on the shaft (FIG. 21) and the pawl is released fromthe ratchet by suitable means (not shown) when the shaft and reelsections 317 are to be rotated as set forth in said Patent No. 3,269,150and as hereinafter set forth.

As the bar 170 continues along the plates 175 to draw off the fabric andafter the bar passes above the reel sections 317 of the fourthtensioning means each end of the bar is carried into a notch 321 formedin the upper end of a lever 322 pivotally mounted on the shaft 97. Asshown in FIGS. 2 and 28 the lower surfaces of the notches 321 in thelevers 322 are at the same level as the upper surfaces of the plates 175and springs 323 connected between the levers and brackets 325, securedto the brackets 80, normally bias the levers to a stopped positionagainst the ends of the plates. After the bar 170 enters the notches 321in the levers 322 the straps 176 continue to move the bar and leversabout the shaft 97 until the levers reach the stopped position of FIG.29 which is determined by engagement of the levers with stops 326 (FIG.2) or other suitable means carried on the brackets 80. It will be seenthat movement of the upper ends of the levers 322 is along an arcuatepath as the levers move from the position of FIG. 28 to the position ofFIG. 29 which causes the downwardly extending end portions 172 of thehook members 171 to rise slightly as shown in FIG. 29. Also as the bar170 moves from the position of FIG. 28 to the position of FIG. 29 thefree ends of the hook members 171 are carried beneath a strip of felt327 or the like to depress the fabric slightly on the downwardlyextending end portions 172 of the hook members as the bar reaches theposition of FIG. 29 to facilitate disconnection of the fabric from thedown-turned end portions 172 of the hooks 171 by the reel sections 317,as hereinafter set forth. The felt strip 327 is carried on a flat rigidbar 328 each end of which is in turn secured to a lever 330 (FIG. 2).The levers 330 are pivotally mounted on pins 331 carried on the brackets325 and normally rest on the upper ends of the levers 322 when thelatter are in the positions of FIGS. 2 and 28 to position the felt stripslightly above the level of the hook members 1'71 at the time the barenters the notches 321 in the levers 322. Thereupon as the levers 322move toward their positon of FIG. 29 the hook members 171 rise slightlyas above set forth and the levers 330 drop by gravity to cause the feltstrip 327 to scrape along the horizontal portions of the hook membersand then to depress the fabric downwardly on the portions 172 of thehook members. Also as the levers 322 move to their position of FIG. 29the fabric is lowered to a level in which the hook members 318 in thereel sections will engage the fabric and at this time the pawl 314 isdisengaged from the ratchet 316 to release the weights 320 to startrotating the shaft 312 and reel sections 317 to engage the hook members318 with the fabric. As the reel sections continue to rotate the hookmembers 318 therein strip the fabric from the hook members 171 in thebar 170 and the fabric is then discharged into a receptacle (not shown)as the hook members 318 are retracted into the reel sections, as setforth in said Patent No. 3,269,150.

While the foregoing describes the draw-off means of the invention in amachine having welt turning mechanism it is to be understood that thedraw-off means is also adaptable to machines having means fortransferring preformed welt portions to the needles 17. Generally thetransfer means includes a bar similar to the bar 30 having points onwhich the preformed welts are initially placed and the bar is operatedto the position of FIG. 24 in the same manner and by the same means asbar 30 to place the loops of the welt portion on the needles. The bar 42of the second tensioning means, the bar 170 of the third tensioningmeans and the reel sections 317 of the fourth tensioning means may thenbe operated generally in the same manner as above set forth to tensionand draw off the fabric as it is formed on the machine. Alternately, thesecond tensioning means may be idled and only the third and fourthtensioning means operated to provide the fabric tensioning and draw-offmeans if desired.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by whichthe above described results are obtained, can be changed and modified invarious ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed andhereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting selvage fabricblanks, a first draw-off means for said fabric blanks, means for movingsaid first draw-off means to engage said fabric blank, means for movingsaid first draw-off means in a draw-off direction to tension said fabricblank, a second fabric draw-off means for said fabric, means for movingsaid second fabric draw-off means from an inactive position to aposition adjacent said fabric blank between said needles and said firstdrawoff means as said first draw-off means continues to tension saidfabric blank, fabric deflecting means, means for moving said deflectingmeans from inactive position to active position to engage and deflectsaid fabric blank into position for engagement by said second draw-offmeans, and means for moving said second draw-off means to engage saidfabric blank while said fabric is deflected by said deflecting means.

2. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting selvaged fabricblanks with turned welt portions, a welt bar, means for moving said weltbar toward said needles to engage the first course of the welt on theneedles, to tension and draw off the welt fabric as it is knitted, andto then return the first course to said needles to form said turned weltportion, in combination with a second means for drawing off said weltfabric, said second means including a second bar having hooks thereon,means for moving said second bar from an inactive position to a positionin which said hooks are adjacent said welt fabric between said needlesand said welt bar as said welt bar continues to draw off said weltfabric, a third bar, means for moving said third bar to engage anddepress said fabric into the path of said hooks on said second bar,means for moving said second bar to engage said hooks thereon with saidfabric to tension said fabric while said fabric is depressed by saidthird bar and as said welt bar continues to draw off said fabric, saidsecond bar acting to draw 01f said turned welt portion after said weltbar returns said first course to said needles to form said turned weltportion.

3. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting selvaged fabricblanks with turned welt portions, a welt bar adapted for movement towardand away from said needles to engage a first course of the welt fabric,to tension and draw off said welt fabric as it is knitted and to thenreturn said first course to said needles to form said turned weltportion, in combination with a second draw-off means for engaging andtensioning said welt fabric before said welt bar is moved to return saidfirst course of said welt fabric to said needles, means for moving saidsecond draw-off means from an inactive position to a position adjacentsaid Welt fabric between said needles and said welt bar as said welt barcontinues to tension said welt fabric, fabric deflecting means, meansfor moving said deflecting means from inactive position to activeposition to engage and deflect said welt fabric into position forengagement by said second draw-off means, and means for moving saidsecond draw-off means away from said needles to engage and tension saidwelt fabric while said fabric is deflected by said deflecting means.

4. In a machine according to claim 3 in which there is means forinactivating said tensioning means for said second draw-off means, andsaid moving means for said second draw-off means is operative to movesaid second draw-off means from said inactive position to said positionadjacent said fabric when said tensioning meant is inactivated by saidinactivating means.

5. In a machine according to claim 4 in which sect nd draw-off means ismounted on pivoted members, and snid means for moving said seconddraw-off means to said position adjacent said Welt fabric includes afirst spring for moving said second draw-off means relative to saidpivoted members and a second spring for pivotally moving said pivotedmembers.

6. In a machine according to claim 5 in which there is means for guidingsaid second draw-off means between said inactive position and saidposition adjacent said fabric, and means for stopping said seconddraw-off means in said position adjacent said fabric.

7. In a machine according to claim 4 in which said means forinactivating said tensioning means for said second draw-off means isoperated by said moving means for said fabric deflecting means.

8. In a machine according to claim 3 in which there is means forinactivating said moving means for said fabric deflecting means.

9. In a machine according to claim 8 in which there is pattern means forcontrolling the operation of said inactivating means for said movingmeans for said deflecting means.

10. In a machine according to claim 7 in which said inactivating meansfor said tensioning means includes a cam, means for moving said cam tomove said tensioning means to an inactive position, and means forarresting said tensioning means in said inactive position.

11. In a machine according to claim 10 in which said moving means forsaid cam comprises said moving means for said fabric deflecting means.

12. In a machine according to claim 10 in which said arresting means forsaid tensioning means is operated to release said tensioning means tomove said second draw-01f means to engage and tension said welt fabricby movement of said deflecting means to active position.

13. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting fabric blanks, afirst draw-off means, means for supporting said first draw-off means formovement toward and away from said needles along a predetermined path,means for moving said first draw-off means from an inactive positionremote from said needles to a position adjacent said needles, means forraising said first drawoif means above said predetermined path and foragain lowering said first draw-off means to said predetermined path toengage said fabric, means for moving said first draw-off means towardsaid inactive position to tension said fabric blank as it is knit, asecond fabric draw-01f means between said inactive position and saidposition adjacent said needles and means for operating said seconddraw-off means to connect said second draw-off means to said fabricblank and to disconnect said fabric blank from said first draw-off meanswhen said first draw-off means is in said inactive position, said firstdraw-01f means comprising a bar, hooks having downturned fabric engagingends secured to said bar, and means on said bar for connecting saidraising means to said bar, said connecting means on said bar beingengaged with said raising means during movement of said bar to saidposition adjacent said needles, and said connecting means beingdisengaged from said raising means after said hooks are engaged withsaid fabric during movement of said first draw-off means toward saidinactive position by said moving means.

14. In a machine according to claim 13 in which there is cam operatedmeans for operating said raising means and pattern means for controllingthe operation of said cam operated means.

15. In a machine according to claim 13 in which said supporting meansfor said first draw-off means includes fixed members for supporting saidfirst draw-off means during movement thereof from said position adjacentsaid needles to a position adjacent said inactive position, and pivotedlevers for receiving said first draw-off means from said fixed membersand for supporting said first draw-off means during movement thereofbetween said inactive position and said position adjacent thereto.

16. In a machine according to claim 15 in which there is means fordepressing said fabric blank on said down-turned ends of said hooksduring movement of said bar from said position adjacent said inactiveposition to said inactive position to facilitate disconnection of saidfabric blank from said down-turned ends of said hooks by said seconddraw-off means.

17. In a knitting machine having needles for knitting a fabric blank, afirst draw-off means for said fabric blank, means for operating saidfirst draw-off means to tension said fabric blank, a second draw-offmeans for said fabric blank, means for engaging said second drawoifmeans with said fabric blank while said fabric blank is tensioned bysaid first draw-01f means, means for operating said second draw-offmeans to tension said fabric blank, means for disconnecting said firstdraw-off means from said fabric blank while said fabric blank istensioned by said second draw off means, a third drawoff means, meansfor connecting said third draw-01f means to said fabric blank while saidsecond draw-off means is connected to said fabric blank, and means foroperating said third draw-off means to tension said fabric blank, saidthird draw-off means acting during operation to tension said fabricblank to disconnect said fabric blank from said second draw-off means.

18. A machine according to claim 17 in which there is a fourth draw-01fmeans, means for operating said fourth draw-off means to connect it tosaid fabric blank to tension said fabric blank, said fourth draw-offmeans acting during operation to tension said fabric blank and todisconnect said fabric blank from said third drawoff means.

19. A method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having meansfor knitting a flat selvaged fabric blank, and fabric draw-off means fordrawing off and tensioning said fabric blank as it is knitted, includingthe steps of connecting a first hook bar to said fabric blank, operatingsaid first hook bar in a draw-off direction to tension said fabricblank, engaging a second hook bar with said fabric blank, operating saidsecond hook bar in a draw-off direction to tension said fabric blank,disconnecting said first hook bar from said fabric blank while saidsecond hook bar is operating to tension said fabric blank, connecting athird hook bar to said fabric blank while said second hook bar isoperating to tension said fabric blank, operating said third hook bar totension said fabric blank, and disconnecting said second hook bar fromsaid fabric blank while said third hook bar is operating to tension saidfabric blank.

20. A method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having meansfor knitting a fiat selvaged fabric blank, and draw-off means fordrawing off and tensioning said fabric blank as it is knitted, includingthe steps of connecting a first hook bar to said fabric blank, operatingsaid first hook bar along a predetedmined path to tension said fabricblank, engaging a second hook bar with said fabric blank while saidfirst bar continues to tension said fabric blank, operating said secondhook bar along said predetermined path to tension said fab ric blankwhile said first hook bar is connected to said fabric blank,disconnecting said first hook bar from said fabric blank as said secondbook bar is operating to tension said fabric blank, connecting a thirdhook bar to said fabric blank while said second hook bar is operating totension said fabric blank, operating said third hook bar along saidpredetermined path to tension said fabric blank, and disconnecting saidsecond hook bar from said fabric blank while said third hook bar isoperating to tension said fabric blank.

21. A method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having meansfor knitting a fiat selvaged fabric blank, and means for drawing off andtensioning said fabric blank as it is knitted, including the steps ofconnecting a first draw-off means to said fabric blank, operating saidfirst draw-off means in a draw-off direction to tension said fabricblank, engaging a second draw-off means with said fabric blank whilesaid first draw-off means is operating to tension said fabric blank,operating said second draw-off means in a draw-olf direction to tensionsaid fabric blank, disconnecting said first draw-off means from saidfabric blank while said second draw-off means is operating to tensionsaid fabric blank, connecting a third draw-off means to said fabricblank while said second draw-off means is operating to tension saidfabric, operating said third draw-off means in a draw-off direction totension said fabric blank, disconnecting said second draw-off means fromsaid fabric blank while said third draw-01f means is operating totension said fabric blank, connecting a fourth draw-off means to saidfabric blank while said third draw-off means is connected to said fabricblank, and operating said fourth draw-off means in a draw-off directionto tension said fabric blank and to disconnect said fabric blank fromsaid third draw-off means.

22. A method of operating a straight bar knitting machine having meansfor knitting a flat selvaged fabric, and means for drawing off andtensioning said fabric as it is knitted, including the steps ofconnecting a first draw-off means to said fabric, operating said firstdraw-off means in a first draw-off direction to tension said fabric,engaging a second draw-off means with said fabric while said firstdraw-off means is operating to tension said fabric, operating saidsecond draw-off means in said first draw-off direction to tension saidfabric, disconnecting said first draw-off means from said fabric whilesaid second drawoff means is operating to tension said fabric,connecting a third draw-ofi means to said fabric while said seconddrawolf means is operating to tension said fabric, operating said thirddraw-off means in said first draw-01f direction to tension said fabricand to disconnect said fabric from said second draw-off means,connecting a fourth draw-off means to said fabric while said fabric isconnected to said third draw-off means, and operating said fourthdraw-off means to draw off and tension said fabric, said fourth draw-01fmeans acting during operation to change the draw-off direction of saidfabric from said first direction to a second direction to disconnectsaid fabric from said third draw-01f means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,413,601 12/1946 Bitzer 66-962,622,422 12/ 1952 Vaclavik et al 66-96 2,789,423 4/ 1959 Vaclavik et al66-149 2,853,863 9/1958 Cobert 66-96 2,860,501 11/1958 Cobert 66-963,214,944 11/1965 Kienel 66-149 3,269,150 8/1966 Haehnel 66-1493,296,838 1/1967 Boylen 66-149 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,317,872 1/1963 France.

928,951 6/1963 Great Britain.

958,075 5/ 1964 Great Britain.

W. CARTER REYNOLDS, Primary Examiner.

